Hello and welcome to Regions Calling, your guide to developments from beyond the Russian capital by The Moscow Times.
Persistent fuel shortages and economic damage from Ukrainian drone attacks on energy infrastructure and warehouses operated by online retailer Wildberries have dominated headlines across Russia’s regions over the past month.
The turmoil has prompted many Russians, including previously apolitical bloggers, to take to social media to vent their frustrations. But will this discontent spill over into Russia’s tightly controlled political space?
In this week’s newsletter, we examine how independent candidates are faring ahead of September’s State Duma and regional elections, and whether the country’s socioeconomic strains have helped them in any way — if at all.
But first, a look at the latest news from across the regions and updates on the fuel crisis:
